Rue du Page 2, 1050 Ixelles

What’s good? Our group, out for a birthday dinner, started with the antipasti platter to share, featuring a delicious range of cured meats and cheeses. The light cheese spiced with chilli was a big hit, and the mortadella and salami were rapidly gobbled up too. Highest recommendation.

For main courses, we were particularly impressed by the ragu and also the carbonara; pasta cooked to perfection and served in lovingly crafted, rich sauces. The portions are hearty too, which isn’t always a given; so that was a bonus.

The indulgent tiramisu, with a delightful balance of cream, cake and cocoa, was a big winner for dessert.

What’s not? The chairs. This is a very personal bugbear, but how difficult can it be for a restaurant to source comfortable seats for patrons to sit on? You wouldn’t think it’d be a challenge, but La Piola’s basic, wooden chairs left me folded in half and feeling uncomfortable by the end of the meal. (This isn’t a problem unique to La Piola, to be clear. Get it together, Brussels!) Add a death-defying trip down a steep staircase to the bathroom, and there is definitely room for improvement on the interior. No complaints with the food, thankfully, although there were no clams the night we went, which left a dearth of seafood options.

Vibe: Very traditional Italian. Open the door, sweep aside a curtain and be transported straight to Emilia-Romagna.

Who’s picking up the check? It’s a great spot to take a work contact or a source, so you can likely tap the boss’ company card. Pasta dishes come in between €16 and €20, while the antipasti platter costs €35 but will easily serve four people. A glass of house wine will set you back between €6 and €8. Not a bank breaker.

Insider tip: After you’ve finished dinner, head just round the corner to Le Stoefer, where they serve a delightful range of cocktails in a buzzy setting.

How to get there: Metro from the European Quarter round to Louise, then tram down to Bailli. It’s a short walk from there.

— Review published on January 18, 2024. Illustration by Dato Paruvala for POLITICO.